July 13, 2007
Polar, others boot benzene from drinks
By Matthew L. Brown
Despite the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found no known health risk associated with the level of benzene found in some soft drinks, Worcester-based Polar Beverages Inc. and four others have agreed in a settlement with consumers to reformulate certain drinks.
Also as part of the settlement, the drink companies agreed to replace products purchased prior to the reformulation, according to the plaintiffs and their attorneys.
Polar agreed to reformulate its Diet Orange Dry soda. The other products reformulated as part of the settlement include Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, Sunny Delight Citrus Punch, Baja Orange and Baja Berry, Diet Rockstar and Shasta Caffeine Free Regular Orange.
The reformulations minimize or eliminate the possibility that the drinks can form benzene.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, benzene can be both naturally occurring and man-made. Low levels are found in outdoor air, and higher levels are found in indoor air from products like detergents, glue, furniture wax and paint. It is a natural part of crude oil and gasoline, and has been linked to Leukemia.
Also as part of the settlement, the drink companies agreed to replace products purchased prior to the reformulation, according to the plaintiffs and their attorneys.
Polar agreed to reformulate its Diet Orange Dry soda. The other products reformulated as part of the settlement include Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, Sunny Delight Citrus Punch, Baja Orange and Baja Berry, Diet Rockstar and Shasta Caffeine Free Regular Orange.
The reformulations minimize or eliminate the possibility that the drinks can form benzene.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, benzene can be both naturally occurring and man-made. Low levels are found in outdoor air, and higher levels are found in indoor air from products like detergents, glue, furniture wax and paint. It is a natural part of crude oil and gasoline, and has been linked to Leukemia.
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